Welcome
Setting the scene
Working with the local community
Our progress
About The Bermondsey Project
In October 2022, Greystar purchased the former Peek Freans Biscuit Factory site and is proud to be delivering the long-awaited Bermondsey Project – a new chapter for this historic location.
Greystar Real Estate Partners is an international real estate and developer. Greystar has nearly 30 years’ experience investing, delivering, and managing rental housing, and has an exceptional track record of building and managing homes for rent. Our experience in sustainable regeneration makes us uniquely well-placed to deliver the planned homes and develop long-term partnerships with our neighbours. Greystar is committed to working collaboratively with communities and local authorities to ensure that everybody can have their say on our proposals. Our mission is to enrich the lives we touch by doing things the right way.
You can read more about Greystar and its other developments here https://www.greystar.com/about-greystar/about .
Following many years of local engagement by the site’s former owners, Grosvenor, we will continue to work with the community to deliver The Bermondsey Project. We have a strong track record of investing in the community through our projects across London and beyond, and we will use our experience to deliver a project that brings long-term value for our neighbours in Bermondsey.
Formerly the Peek Freans Biscuit Factory, the iconic Biscuit Town turned off its ovens and closed its doors in 1989.
During its 123-year operational life, the factory created thousands of jobs and distributed millions of popular biscuits around the world.
Since closing its doors over thirty years ago, much of the factory site has been left derelict, waiting for its future to be decided. In 2012, Grosvenor purchased the site, with a vision to redevelop it and revitalise the North Bermondsey area, while paying tribute to its history by retaining and refurbishing some of the original factory buildings.
Located in south London and spanning a five-hectare area, the site is one of the largest brownfield sites which has been approved for redevelopment in Southwark. Just six-minutes’ walk from Bermondsey Underground Station and a 15-minute walk from both Bermondsey South and Surrey Quays overground stations; with easy access to Southwark Park and the River Thames, The Bermondsey Project site is well-connected, in a high amenity, established residential area.
In February 2020, after significant public consultation and discussions with Southwark Council and the Greater London Authority, planning permission was granted for the redevelopment of the former Biscuit Factory site.
In the first stage of delivery, some areas of the large site were cleared and remediated, and construction began on the new school building for use by Compass School.
Greystar has commenced construction on the residential, commercial, retail, and public realm elements of the Bermondsey Project, which will ultimately bring thousands of new residents to Bermondsey, and attract many more visitors to the revitalised area.
Resident experience is at the heart of all Greystar developments and the Bermondsey Project is no different.
Following many years of local engagement by former owners, Grosvenor, Greystar will continue to work with the community to guide the direction of the Bermondsey Project. We have a strong track record of investing in the community through our projects across London and beyond, and we will use our experience to realise long-term value for our neighbours in Bermondsey.
Through Greystar’s ‘Build to Rent’ model, developments are planned and designed to be rented, from the outset. This model allows Greystar to get to know community members very early on, and then work together to develop new places and spaces that can feasibly be delivered and ultimately enjoyed by all community members, both existing and new.
Once construction finishes in 2027, the locally-based tenancy team work hard to build strong relationships between existing and new community members. We want to support the community projects that make Bermondsey a better place to live and work. This support will build on our experience delivering over 2,000 new homes at Greenford Quay in Ealing, where our rolling Community Grant Programme has helped to support events and programmes championed by our neighbours. Our community and cultural events programme at the Bermondsey Project will be open to all and offer something to everyone.
Since acquiring the site in October 2022, Greystar has been working closely with stakeholders, residents, and businesses to ensure the development reflects local priorities. We have also formed a Steering Group to help us realise the potential of this unique site.
Since purchasing the site, we’ve held numerous events with the local community, and have proudly attended and sponsored fantastic local events such as the Bermondsey Carnival. We look forward to continuing our support for more community events in the years to come.
If you’d like to see more information on how we have supported the community so far, you can view our News and Events page.
We are delighted to announce that we received approval from Southwark Council for our revised planning application submitted in July 2023.
The revised plans included the following minor amendments:
The first phase of the development completed in Spring 2024, with a new school building constructed for Charter School Bermondsey. Over the coming years, we will be delivering:
Construction of the new buildings is well underway, and we are on track for the first residents to move in this September 2025.
We were also pleased to mark a major milestone in April 2025, with a topping out ceremony held for Buildings 1-5.
We are sharing monthly construction newsletters to keep everyone up to date with our progress. With 30 years of experience and an exceptional track record of building and managing homes for rent, Greystar is uniquely well-placed to deliver the planned homes, and develop long-term partnerships with our Bermondsey neighbours.
